Fear, surveillance, vetting: How North Korea is guarding against Olympic defections

Seoul, South Korea( CNN) Almost 500 Northern korean are in South Korea for the Winter Olympics — in a shore they have been brought up to see as opponent territory; one clearly more prosperous and more free than their own.

The group of athletes, administrators, performers, reporters and cheerleaders — including the younger sister of Kim Jong Un — will be surrounded by support staff, minders and snitches. They’re too likely to be vetted, well-treated and steadfast each member of North Korea’s elite.

North Korean athletes have imperfection before. A women’s ice hockey player imperfection in 1997 and a judo athlete imperfection while at a competition in Spain in 1999.